I started this project for one reason and one reason alone: a grade.

And for that, I saw it as not much more than a glorified homework assignment. With an ever looming deadline and a slew of other finals at hand, I chose to wrap this game up as hurriedly as I could--even if that meant the quality would suffer. Since that release over a year ago, the game has seen some attention, and is finally getting a well-deserved quality of life update. This update aims to improve the overall gameplay experience for new players by adding more clarity, direction, and consistency while preserving the same gameplay mechanics and story as before.

Thanks to everyone who submitted feedback! Your praises and criticisms were taken into account for this update. Thank you also to waymond for helping me write this post!

Finally, a recent, popular video on IT FISHES AT NIGHT contained a sound effect from another game during the boat cutscene. While this update changes the original sound effect, the sound heard in the video was edited and not from the original game.

Changelog

Gameplay Updates

• Adjusted fishing loot table: overall an improved, easier playing experience
  • Players cannot receive consecutive jumpscares
    
  • After 5 unsuccessful catches in a zone, players are guaranteed the zone item
  • On average there are more normal fish, less jumpscares, and slightly more items than before
• Added zone markings on the map to show where Players should fish
  • Markings will be added/updated whenever you first view a new page in the book
• Removed line-breaking mechanic: holding down to reel-in a fishing line will no longer break after a while
  • This mechanic was originally intended to add tension and force patience, but ended up being confusing and annoying for players
• Adjusted contents of pages to have more gameplay hints
• Adjusted fishing animations to end quicker
• Adjusted fishing animation to be more discrete when getting an item
• Adjusted Fisherman to now detect players that are very close by, even if not illuminated by the flashlight
  • The Fisherman will still be unable to detect players directly behind it
• Adjusted fishing zones to be slightly bigger than before
• Added small hint when fishing for the last item incorrectly

Usability Updates

• Added fullscreen option
• Added resolution dropdown
• Adjusted post processing to be less heavy
• Adjusted about menu slightly

Misc Changes

• Adjusted fog & lighting for boat cutscene
• Adjusted ending message slightly
• Adjusted boat cutscene event to activate faster and more reliably
• Adjusted boat cutscene audio effects

  
  

  • (see note above!)
• Fixed incorrect player spawns when starting a new game
• Fixed infinite jumping bug on edges of the boat